Park overview
Purden Lake Park is found on the north shore of Purden Lake. Located east of Prince George, the surrounding landscape is dominated by the Cariboo and Rocky Mountains.
The park has a densely forested upland with open areas near the lakefront. A scenic place for a shoreline stroll or swim and also a popular fishing spot.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park gate is open May 3, 2024 to September 15, 2024
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 41
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 78
- Double sites: 7
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 3 to September 15
- Winter season
- Not known
- Booking required
- 2024: May 17 to September 14
- Winter season note
- Gate is closed during the off-season. Opening and closing dates are subject to change due to weather/accessibility.
Safety info
- Boaters are cautioned to keep a close eye on the weather as Purden Lake is subject to sudden, heavy winds which can transform the lake surface into dangerous whitecaps.
- Safe swimming practices are a must! There are no lifeguards on duty. Children should be closely watched at all times and solo swimming should be avoided.
- No alcohol is allowed on the beach or in the day-use area.
Camping
Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
All campsite reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
The campground features paved roads to 78 sites, including seven double units and 12 tent sites. Purden Lake can also accommodate larger RVs. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $22 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $11 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
A concrete boat launch, complete with parking allows easy access to productive angling for rainbow trout and burbot. For boaters and waterskiers, a separate beach has been developed adjacent to the sandy swimming area.
A sani-station and dump is available during the collecting season. The sani-station is located at the campground entrance. The fee is $5 per discharge.
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act ). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
A large day-use area near the beach features 48 picnic tables, changehouses and a log picnic shelter complete with a wood stove. Swimming in the clear waters of Purden Lake and sunbathing on the sandy beach are favoured activities of visitors.
Activities
Lakeside walking trails are surrounded by a gallery of diverse plant life. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, please obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Please follow safe swimming practices and remain within the designated area. An abrupt drop-off is marked with floats.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Fishing for rainbow trout and burbot is popular at Purden Lake Park.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Visitors may observe beaver, snowshoe hares, squirrels and porcupines. Bald eagles and ruffed grouse may be seen in the park and the haunting call of the common loon often breaks the evening silence.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times. Pets are not allowed in park buildings or beach areas except for the area set aside for pets on the west end of the day-use area (Boaters beach) as indicated by signs. You are responsible for their control, behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to the potential for problems with wildlife.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Purden Lake Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Portions of this park are open to hunting. All hunters should refer to the current BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for regulations and further information.
Purden Lake Park is located 64 km east of Prince George on the Yellowhead Highway 16.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: August 12, 1971
- Size: 2,521 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Quartz Contracting
northquartz@aol.com
250 964-3489
Nature and culture
History
Surveyors searching for a route for the Canadian Pacific National Railway traversed the area in 1879 and named the lake for their supervisor, M.H. Purden Bell.
Conservation
Purden Lake Park is situated within the Fraser River Basin, an irregularly shaped depression of gently rolling hills and shallow lakes covering much of North Central B.C. Here, visitors will find a remarkably diverse range of vegetation growing atop the glacial drift that blankets the landscape. White spruce and lodgepole pine can be found at lower elevations with Douglas, balsam and subalpine fir higher up. Willow, alder and birch thrive along the lakeshore. Bunchberry (dwarf dogwood) and false Solomon’s Seal carpet the forest floor while Indian paintbrush and lupine add a splash of colour to the roadsides in spring and early summer.
Wildlife
Purden Lake Park is home to black bear and moose year round. Visitors may observe beaver, snowshoe hares, squirrels and porcupines. Bald eagles, ruffed grouse and the common loon may be seen in the park. At Purden Creek, the mature forest is a natural umbrella shading the stream and creating excellent habitat for rainbow trout.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.